Mainstay rocket's last Earth watch
THE nation successfully launched a climate change monitoring satellite on its mainstay H-2A rocket, which made its final flight before it is replaced by a new flagship model designed to be more cost competitive in the global space market.
The H-2A rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, carrying the GOSAT-GW satellite as part of Tokyo's effort to mitigate climate change.
The satellite was safely separated from the rocket and released into a planned orbit about 16 minutes later.
Scientists and space officials at the control room exchanged hugs and handshakes to celebrate the successful launch, which was delayed by several days due to a malfunctioning of the rocket's electrical systems.
Keiji Suzuki, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries official in charge of rocket launch operations, said he was more nervous than ever for the final mission of the rocket, which has been his career work.
'I've spent my entire life at work not to drop H-2A rocket ... All I can say is I'm so relieved,' he said.
Yesterday's launch marked the 50th and final flight for the H-2A, which has served as Japan's mainstay rocket to carry satellites and probes into space with a near-perfect record since its 2001 debut.
After its retirement, it will be fully replaced by the H3, which is already in operation, as Japan's new main flagship.
'It is a deeply emotional moment for all of us at JAXA as a developer,' Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, told a news conference.
The Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water (GOSAT-GW) cycle, is a third series in the mission to monitor carbon, methane and other greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.
Within one year, it will start distributing data such as sea surface temperature and precipitation with much higher resolution to users around the world, including the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, officials said.
The liquid-fuel H-2A rocket with two solid-fuel sub-rockets developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has had 49 flights with a 98% success record, with only one failure in 2003. Mitsubishi Heavy has provided its launch operation since 2007.
H-2A successfully carried into space many satellites and probes, including Japan's moon lander SLIM last year, and a popular Hayabusa2 spacecraft in 2014 to reach a distant asteroid, contributing to the country's space programmes. — AP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Mainstay rocket's last Earth watch
Final ascent: The H-2A rocket, carrying a GOSAT-GW satellite, lifting off from a launch pad in Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. - AP THE nation successfully launched a climate change monitoring satellite on its mainstay H-2A rocket, which made its final flight before it is replaced by a new flagship model designed to be more cost competitive in the global space market. The H-2A rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, carrying the GOSAT-GW satellite as part of Tokyo's effort to mitigate climate change. The satellite was safely separated from the rocket and released into a planned orbit about 16 minutes later. Scientists and space officials at the control room exchanged hugs and handshakes to celebrate the successful launch, which was delayed by several days due to a malfunctioning of the rocket's electrical systems. Keiji Suzuki, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries official in charge of rocket launch operations, said he was more nervous than ever for the final mission of the rocket, which has been his career work. 'I've spent my entire life at work not to drop H-2A rocket ... All I can say is I'm so relieved,' he said. Yesterday's launch marked the 50th and final flight for the H-2A, which has served as Japan's mainstay rocket to carry satellites and probes into space with a near-perfect record since its 2001 debut. After its retirement, it will be fully replaced by the H3, which is already in operation, as Japan's new main flagship. 'It is a deeply emotional moment for all of us at JAXA as a developer,' Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, told a news conference. The Global Observing SATellite for Greenhouse gases and Water (GOSAT-GW) cycle, is a third series in the mission to monitor carbon, methane and other greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Within one year, it will start distributing data such as sea surface temperature and precipitation with much higher resolution to users around the world, including the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, officials said. The liquid-fuel H-2A rocket with two solid-fuel sub-rockets developed by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has had 49 flights with a 98% success record, with only one failure in 2003. Mitsubishi Heavy has provided its launch operation since 2007. H-2A successfully carried into space many satellites and probes, including Japan's moon lander SLIM last year, and a popular Hayabusa2 spacecraft in 2014 to reach a distant asteroid, contributing to the country's space programmes. — AP
The Star
02-07-2025
- The Star
Australian moth uses the night sky as a guiding compass
When temperatures rise, the nocturnal moths fly 1,000km to cool down in caves by the Australian Alps. — AJAY NARENDRA/AP An Australian moth uses the night sky as a guiding compass during its yearly migration, according to a new study. When temperatures heat up, nocturnal Bogong moths fly about 620 miles (1,000km) to cool down in caves by the Australian Alps. They later return home to breed and die. Birds routinely navigate by starlight, but the moths are the first known invertebrates, or creatures without a backbone, to find their way across such long distances using the stars. Scientists have long wondered how the moths travel to a place they've never been. A previous study hinted that Earth's magnetic field might help steer them in the right direction, along with some kind of visual landmark as a guide. Since stars appear in predictable patterns each night, scientists suspected they might help lead the way. They placed moths in a flight simulator that mimicked the night sky above them and blocked out the Earth's magnetic field, noting where they flew. Then they scrambled the stars and saw how the moths reacted. When the stars were as they should be, the moths flapped in the right direction. But when the stars were in random places, the moths were disoriented. Their brain cells also got excited in response to specific orientations of the night sky. The findings were published recently in the journal Nature. The mountainous landscape near caves where Australian Bogong moths go to cool down and rest at the Ramshead Range of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales.— ERIC WARRANT/AP Sky as guide It 'was a very clean, impressive demonstration that the moths really are using a view of the night sky to guide their movements,' said Kenneth Lohmann, who studies animal navigation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was not involved with the new research. Researchers don't know what features of the night sky the moths use to find their way. It could be a stripe of light from the Milky Way, a colourful nebula or something else entirely. Whatever it is, the insects seem to rely on that along with Earth's magnetic field to make their journey. Other animals harness the stars as a guide. Birds take celestial cues as they soar through the skies and dung beetles roll their remains short distances while using the Milky Way to stay on course. It's an impressive feat for Bogong moths whose brains are smaller than size of a grain of rice to rely on the night sky for their odyssey, said study author David Dreyer with Lund University in Sweden. 'It's remarkable that an animal with such a tiny brain can actually do this,' Dreyer said. – AP
The Star
29-06-2025
- The Star
Japan's final H2A rocket successfully lifts off, ends 24-year career
A Japanese H2A rocket, carrying a satellite for greenhouse gas and water cycle observation, lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on June 29, 2025. - Photo: Kyodo TANEGASHIMA (Japan), June 29 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Japan successfully launched its 50th and final H2A liquid-fuel rocket from a southwestern Japanese island on Sunday (June 29), drawing the curtain on the series' 24-year career in support of the country's space development programme, Kyodo News reported. The H2A rocket, developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has been replaced as the country's mainstay space vehicle by the H3 rocket, which offers a lower launch service price. The final H2A rocket, which blasted off from Tanegashima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture at 1.33 am (local time), placed in orbit a government satellite for observing greenhouse gas levels and monitoring climate change. The satellite separated from the rocket at an altitude of around 670 kilometres near the equator and deployed its solar panels, with its operation confirmed by JAXA. "I was more nervous than ever about the launch and feel like I'm still dreaming. We achieved our long-cherished goal of a 98 per cent success rate," said Keiji Suzuki, a Mitsubishi Heavy official in charge of the rocket launch. At a park near the Tanegashima Space Centre, around 1,300 people gathered early Sunday to watch the launch, cheering as the rocket ascended in the darkness. "I was impressed by the loud sound and light. I'm excited to see the next H3 rocket," said 7-year-old Hikari Nagoe. Since 2001, the H2A series has supported the country's aerospace exploration by sending satellites and probes into space, raising its reliability over time. Its long career was rocky at times. The No. 6 rocket failed in 2003 when a booster did not separate, and the ground crew ordered its destruction. It was discovered later that a damaged jet nozzle was the cause of the breakdown. It took one year and three months until the succeeding No. 7 flew successfully after alterations were made. Sunday's launch was postponed by Mitsubishi Heavy from June 24 due to an equipment abnormality. The H3 rocket, also developed by Mitsubishi Heavy and JAXA, is expected to help the country gain a foothold in the satellite-launch business that has become increasingly competitive with the rise of SpaceX in the United States. The H3 rocket debuted in March 2023, but its maiden flight ended with a self-destruct order minutes after lift-off due to the failure of the second-stage engine to ignite. The succeeding launches, including the latest No. 5 in February, have been successful. - Bernama-Kyodo
